My name is Elior Sterling and I am a rabbinic student and Jewish educator living in Walla Walla, Washington. I work to expand access to Jewish learning, communal prayer, and practice opportunities for Jews across the rural Pacific Northwest.
I teach a range of online group classes for pre-teens through adults with the intent of both sharing the wisdom of our tradition and building ties across the small pockets of Jewish community throughout this region. I also provide one-on-one tutoring in preparation for B' Mitzvah.
My personal practice is most closely aligned with the Conservative movement, but I lead services and teach locally at a Reform affiliated synagogue. I study at the first pluralistic rabbinic school established in the US, Academy of Jewish Religion, which I love in part because it enables me to be helpful to Jews across the spectrum of belief and practice. I have also been studying at SVARA, a traditionally radical yeshiva, since 2021. I think a lot about Rabbi Benay Lappe's famous CRASH talk and what we are doing today to build the future that our great-great grandchildren will live in.
Before I moved to Walla Walla, I did a lot of other things. I am a neurospicy multitasker. I studied history, linguistics, and folklore at UC Berkeley while making my living developing first gen websites as a single parent in the 90's. I have been a college instructor, figure skating coach, software developer, linux systems administrator, herbalist, crafter, nonprofit director, and a certified peer counselor. When I was signing the contract to work as a software developer at fring in Ramat Gan, I noticed a line in the contract that said that I couldn't have any other jobs. I turned to the CEO of the company and said that I couldn't sign that because I had another job -- as a figure skating coach. He pointed out that we were in Israel and that wasn't exactly a reasonable career choice. I pointed to the roof of the ice rink visible through the office window across the Park HaYarkon. He laughed, crossed out that part of the contract, and initialed it. All of that varied experience contributes to who I am today as a teacher and spiritual support for my community.